For immediate release
July 7, 2015

Addressing the Sustainability Challenge in the Health System

Moncton, NB (NBHC) – The New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC) is releasing a brief addressing the Health System Sustainability Challenge in New Brunswick. Citizens expect that their health system is contributing to improving the health status of the population, that it provides services that meet their needs and expectations, and that it is managed in a way which is sustainable for future generations. As a province, we have been underperforming compared to the national average on all three of these dimensions.

“Our health system is not sustainable if we stay on the current course.” declared Stéphane Robichaud, CEO of the NBHC. “But this brief shows that we can reach sustainability in the New Brunswick health system if we have a commitment to multi-year integrated planning.”

This can be accomplished with the current health system structure and legislative framework by:

a) Adopting a citizen-centred focus

b) Setting priorities based on demographics and health status trends

c) Setting provincial standards for health service quality

d) Setting sustainable and realistic financial targets

The sustainability of the New Brunswick health system has been at the centre of many discussions, at all levels of the health system. Much effort is still required to strengthen the collective understanding of the sustainability challenge, whether from the perspective of the needs of citizens, the quality of services or the distribution and evolution of resources. This will require a systematic approach to change led by strong governance and leadership to execute solutions, using the wealth of information we have in New Brunswick to guide us, and to support the identification of potential solutions.

The brief is available online at www.nbhc.ca.

The NBHC has been established as an independent organization that measures, monitors and evaluates New Brunswick’s health system performance through a citizen-centered dual mandate of performance measurement and citizen engagement.

Media Contact

New Brunswick Health Council: Manon Arsenault, 506-869-6728, manon.arsenault@nbhc.ca